Method of separating a poly(arylene ether) composition from a solvent, and poly(arylene ether) composition prepared thereby

ABSTRACT

A method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent includes treating a poly(arylene ether)-containing solution with a devolatilizing extruder to form an extruded composition, and cooling the extruded composition with a cooling device that does not immerse the extruded composition in water. The composition may be used to isolate a poly(arylene ether) from the solvent-containing reaction mixture in which it is prepared, or to remove solvent from a multi-component poly(arylene ether)-containing thermoplastic composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Thermoset resins are materials that cure to form very hard plastics. These materials can be used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. For example, thermosets are used in protective coatings, adhesives, electronic laminates (such as those used in the fabrication of computer circuit boards), flooring and paving applications, glass fiber-reinforced pipes, and automotive parts (including leaf springs, pumps, and electrical components). Relative to other types of plastics, cured thermosets are typically brittle. Addition of a poly(arylene ether) to a curable thermoset composition is known to decrease the brittleness of the cured resin.

When the thermoset resin is an epoxy resin or other resin reactive with phenolic hydroxy groups, the poly(arylene ether) is typically “unfunctionalized” in the sense that it possesses one or more terminal hydroxy groups that are present in the poly(arylene ether) as synthesized by oxidative polymerization of a phenol compound. When the thermoset resin comprises reactive carbon-carbon double bonds or triple bonds (as, for example, in (meth)acrylate resins, vinyl resins, unsaturated polyesters, and the like), the poly(arylene ether) is typically functionalized with groups that can be copolymerized with the reactive carbon-carbon double bonds or triple bonds of the resin. As used herein, the prefix “(meth)acryl” means acryl- or methacryl-.

Poly(arylene ether)s are often produced by oxidative polymerization of a monohydric phenol, optionally in the presence of a polyhydric phenol, in a good solvent for the product poly(arylene ether). Various techniques of isolating poly(arylene ether)s from solution have been described. Some poly(arylene ether)s have been isolated from solution by precipitation in an antisolvent, such as methanol. However, such precipitation methods often produce poor yields of poly(arylene ether)s with low molecular weight and/or high relative concentrations of phenolic hydroxy groups. Some poly(arylene ether)s have been isolated by a so-called devolatilizing extrusion process in which heat and reduced pressure in an extruder are used to drive off solvent. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,211,327 B1 and 6,307,010 to Braat et al. However, some poly(arylene ether)s undergo thermal and/or oxidative degradation in these devolatilizing extrusion processes. Furthermore, when some low molecular weight poly(arylene ether)s are extruded as strands and cooled in a water bath, the strands will occasionally break, causing an inconvenient interruption in the process. In addition, devolatilizing extrusion is considered unsuitable for isolating poly(arylene ether)s functionalized with polymerizable groups, which may react under the extrusion conditions to form a crosslinked polymer.

There is therefore a need for a method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from solvent that is generally adaptable to a variety of unfunctionalized and functionalized poly(arylene ether)s of various molecular weights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described and other drawbacks are alleviated by a method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent, comprising: removing volatiles from a mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded composition comprising the poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded composition with a cooling device; wherein the cooling device cools the extruded composition without water immersion of the extruded composition.

Another embodiment is a method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) is selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule, a polycapped poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule, and mixtures thereof; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.15 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the mixture comprises about 65 to about 85 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 15 to about 35 weight percent solvent; and wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 200 to about 235° C., and at least one vent having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals.

Another embodiment is a method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the mixture comprises about 70 to about 80 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 30 weight percent toluene; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.10 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1; wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 210 to about 230° C., and at least vent having a pressure of about 25 to about 35 kilopascals; wherein the mixture is fed to the extruder downstream of at least one vent; and wherein a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether) is recycled for addition to the feed throat of the extruder.

Another embodiment is a method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from a mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the mixture comprises about 70 to about 80 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 30 weight percent toluene; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.10 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1; wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 210 to about 230° C., and at least one vent having a pressure of about 25 to about 35 kilopascals; wherein the mixture is fed to the extruder downstream of at least one vent; and wherein a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether) is recycled for addition to the feed throat of the extruder

These embodiments and others, including poly(arylene ether)s prepared by the methods, are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in several FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is a plot of residual toluene concentration as a function of melt temperature for devolatilizing extrusion of a particular poly(arylene ether);

FIG. 2 consists of two plots, each plot showing residual toluene concentration as a function of the pressure maintained at a particular extruder vent; “P3” is the pressure of the third vent (counting from upstream to downstream) for a devolatilizing extrusion process isolating a 0.08 deciliter per gram poly(arylene ether) that is a copolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane; “P3 SA120” is the pressure of the third vent for a devolatilizing extrusion process isolating a 0.12 deciliter per gram poly(arylene ether) that is a homopolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a particular devolatilizing extrusion apparatus 10 comprising an extruder barrel 80, a dry polymer addition point 20, a polymer solution addition point 30, four vents 40, a die 50, and a flaker 60 comprising two counterrotating rollers 70;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a particular devolatilizing extrusion apparatus 100 comprising an extruder barrel 80, a dry polymer addition point 20, a polymer solution addition point 30, four vents 40, a die 50, and a cooling belt 110;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a particular devolatilizing extrusion apparatus 200 comprising an extruder barrel 80, a dry polymer addition point 20, a polymer solution addition point 30, four vents 40, an auxiliary extruder 210, a gear pump 220, a die 50, and an enclosed chamber 230 that comprises a flaker 60 comprising two counterrotating rollers 70, and a cooling belt 110.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have discovered that many of the problems associated with previously known methods of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent are reduced or eliminated by a method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent, comprising: removing volatiles from a mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded composition comprising the poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded composition with a cooling device; wherein the cooling device cools the extruded composition without water immersion of the extruded composition. The low yields of precipitation processes are avoided, as are the problems of strand breakage and contamination in devolatilizing extrusion processes that utilize a water cooling bath. Surprisingly, it is has also been discovered that reactively functionalized poly(arylene ether)s tolerate the process without significant reaction of their polymerizable functionality. The result is particularly unexpected given that same reactively functionalized poly(arylene ether)s do not tolerate melt extrusion at similar temperatures.

The devolatilizing extrusion method is applicable not only to the isolation of poly(arylene ether)s from the solutions in which they are synthesized, but also to the removal of solvent from a variety of poly(arylene ether)-containing compositions.

One important feature of the devolatilizing extrusion method is cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling device that does not employ water immersion of the extruded composition. The cooling device is therefore distinguished from cooling devices that employ water immersion of extruded poly(arylene ether) compositions such as, for example, water baths used to cool extruded strands of poly(arylene ether) compositions.

The devolatilizing extruder used in the method can be a co-rotating twin screw extruder with a ratio of screw length to diameter (L/D) of about 10 to about 80 and comprising of a dry polymer feeding zone, at least one liquid feeding zone, at least one devolatilizing zone (for example, a vacuum vent), at least one pumping section, and a die.

Three particular embodiments of the devolatilizing extruder are depicted in FIGS. 3-5. In FIG. 3, the particular devolatilizing extrusion apparatus 10 comprises an extruder barrel 80, a dry polymer addition point 20, a polymer solution addition point 30, four vents 40 for removal of volatiles, a die 50 from which the devolatilized composition is extruded, and a flaker 60 comprising two counterrotating rollers 70. In this embodiment, the cooling device consists of the flaker.

In FIG. 4, the particular devolatilizing extrusion apparatus 100 comprises an extruder barrel 80, a dry polymer addition point 20, a polymer solution addition point 30, four vents 40, a die 50, and a cooling belt 110. In this embodiment, the cooling device consists of the cooling belt 110.

In FIG. 5, the particular devolatilizing extrusion apparatus 200 comprises an extruder barrel 80, a dry polymer addition point 20, a polymer solution addition point 30, four vents 40, an auxiliary extruder 210, a gear pump 220, a die 50, and an enclosed chamber 230 that comprises a flaker 60 comprising two counterrotating rollers 70, and a cooling belt 110. In this embodiment, the cooling device comprises the flaker 60 and the cooling belt 110.

Although the use of the cooling device is described here in the context of a devolatilizing extrusion process, it will be understood that the cooling device can be used in other extrusion processes for poly(arylene ether) compositions. For example, the cooling device can be used to cool extruded high-purity grades of poly(arylene ether)-containing compositions. For such high-purity grades, use of the device is advantageous because it avoids contamination of the extruded composition via exposure to impurities in a water cooling bath with recirculated water. It also minimizes water absorption by the composition.

In some embodiments, the cooling device is maintained at a temperature of about −30 to about 150° C., specifically about 0 to about 80° C., more specifically about 25 to about 50° C. It will be understood that the temperature of the cooling device may momentarily rise above the specified temperature when it contacts the extruded composition. In some embodiments, the cooling device is capable of cooling the extruded composition to a temperature of about 20° C. to the glass transition temperature of the poly(arylene ether).

In some embodiments, the cooling device comprises a cooling belt. Suitable cooling belts include the steel cooling belts commercially available from Sandvik Process Systems LLC, Totowa, N.J. Cooling belts may, optionally, be cooled with air or a liquid such as water, glycol, liquid brine, and mixture thereof. Such cooling fluids are typically circulated in a way that they contact a face of the cooling belt opposite the face contacted by the extruded composition. In other words, the cooling fluid does not typically contact the extruded composition.

In some embodiments, the cooling device comprises a means of spraying the extruded composition with a water mist.

In some embodiments, the extruded composition is extruded in the form of a sheet, a strand, or a film, and the cooling device comprises a flaker (including drum flakers and mill flakers) and a cooling belt. In some embodiments, the cooling device comprises a die face pelletizer and a cooling belt. In some embodiments, the cooling device comprises an apparatus for pastille formation and a cooling belt. Processes and apparatuses for the formation are pastilles are known in the art in include, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,379 to Schermutzki and U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,579 to Froeschke.

Particularly when the poly(arylene ether) product must be free of chemical or particulate contamination, cooling the extruded composition can be conducted in a clean room. The clean room environment preferably comprises substantially dust-free, filtered air. Suitable systems to remove dust and airborne-contaminants in the clean room atmosphere include systems comprising high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, dust collectors, electrostatic air filters, and the like. In one embodiment, the environment where the cooling occurs has a clean room class rating of about 100,000 or better. A clean room rating of 100,000 is equivalent to the maximum number of particles (100,000) having a size greater than or equal to 0.5 micrometer per cubic foot. A clean room rating of about 10,000 or better, may be used, with a clean room rating of about 1,000 or better preferred. The rooms or equipment where the poly(arylene ether)-containing composition is cooled may be enclosed in a positive pressure system wherein the system's air is continuously filtered to remove airborne particulates.

In some embodiments, the mixture comprising the poly(arylene ether) and the solvent is a solution.

In some embodiments, the devolatilizing extrusion comprises introducing the poly(arylene ether)-containing solution to an extruder in a superheated state. Suitable techniques for introducing the solution to an extruder in a superheated state are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,924,350 B2 to Dong et al. By “superheated”, it is meant that the solution is at a temperature greater than the boiling point of the solvent at atmospheric pressure. Typically, the temperature of the superheated polymer-solvent mixture will be about 2° to about 200° C. higher than the boiling point of the solvent at atmospheric pressure, specifically about 10 to about 150° C. higher, more specifically about 50 to about 100° C. higher. In instances where there are multiple solvents present, the polymer-solvent mixture is superheated with respect to at least one of the solvent components. Where the polymer-solvent mixture contains significant amounts of both high and low boiling solvents, it is sometimes advantageous to superheat the polymer-solvent mixture with respect to all solvents present (that is, above the boiling point at atmospheric pressure of the highest boiling solvent). Superheating of the polymer-solvent mixture may be achieved by heating the mixture under pressure.

There is no particular limitation on the physical form of the extruded composition when it encounters the cooling device. Suitable physical forms include pellets, prills, pastilles, films, strands, sheets, flakes, and the like. Methods and apparatuses for forming such physical forms are known in the art. For example, pellets may be formed by die face pelletization. As another example, pastilles may be formed by the methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,379 to Schermutzki and U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,579 to Froeschke. In some embodiments, the extruded composition is transferred to the cooling belt in the form of a film, a strand, or a sheet, and the method further comprises breaking the film, strand, or sheet into flakes or irregular particles. Suitable apparatuses for breaking a film, strand, or sheet into flakes or irregular particles are known in the art and include, for example blades and finger breakers.

The method may further comprise packaging the cooled extruded composition. Suitable packaging materials include, for example, reinforced paper bags, boxes, and fiber drums.

One advantage of the present method is that it produces a material that is not contaminated with the antisolvents typically employed for precipitation of poly(arylene ether)s. Thus, when the method is used for isolating a poly(arylene ether), the extruded composition can consist essentially of a poly(arylene ether), and the poly(arylene ether) can comprise less than 2,000 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the poly(arylene ether). Specifically, in some embodiments, the antisolvent content of the poly(arylene ether) is less than 1,000 parts per million by weight, more specifically less than 500 parts per million by weight, still more specifically less than 100 parts per million by weight. In this embodiment, the statement that the extruded composition can consist essentially of a poly(arylene ether) means that the extruded composition comprises at least 98 weight percent poly(arylene ether); it may contain small but measurable amounts of other components, such as solvents. Antisolvents for poly(arylene ether)s include, for example, lower alkanols having one to about ten carbon atoms (such as methanol), ketones having three to about ten carbon atoms (such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone), and alkanes having five to about ten carbon atoms (such as hexane), and combinations thereof. The less than 2,000 parts per million limit typically refers to a single antisolvent. For example, in some embodiments the antisolvent is methanol, and the extruded poly(arylene ether) comprises less than 2,000 parts per million of methanol.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises removing volatiles from the solution prior to the removing volatiles via devolatilizing extrusion. In other words, the solution may be pre-concentrated prior to devolatilizing extrusion. For example, a poly(arylene ether) synthesis reaction mixture may contain 30 weight percent poly(arylene ether) in toluene, and this solution may be concentrated to 50 weight percent poly(arylene ether) before introduction to the devolatilizing extruder.

In some embodiments, the devolatilizing extrusion comprises adding a solid polymer to a first section of an extruder, and adding the solution to a second section of the extruder downstream of the first section. There is no particular limitation on the solid polymer added to the first section of the extruder. In some embodiments, the solution consists essentially of a solvent and a poly(arylene ether), and the solid polymer consists of the same poly(arylene ether) in solid form. For example, a portion of the extruded poly(arylene ether) produced by the process may be “recycled” for use as the solid polymer. In other embodiments, the solid polymer comprises a polymer other than a poly(arylene ether). For example, the solid polymer could be a homopolystyrene, a rubber-modified polystyrene, a polyamide, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyetherimide, a polyolefin, or other polymer for which useful blends with poly(arylene ether)s are known. The solid polymer is typically in pellet or powder form when it is added to the extruder. The ratio of the feed rate of the mixture to the feed rate of the solid polymer can be about 1:50 to about 50:1, specifically about 1:30 to about 30:1, still more specifically about 1:10 to about 10:1.

Independent of whether a solid polymer is added to the devolatilizing extruder, the poly(arylene ether) solution can be added to the extruder downstream of at least one vacuum vent.

In addition to being a devolatilizing extruder, the devolatilizing extrusion apparatus can be a wiped film evaporator (as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,966 to Parrillo et al.) or a polymer stacked heat exchanger (as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,262 to Aneja et al.).

The solution introduced to the devolatilizing extruder comprises a poly(arylene ether). Suitable poly(arylene ether)s include those comprising repeating structural units having the formula

wherein for each structural unit, each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio (that is, (C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl)S—), C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms.

In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) comprises 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether units, 2,3,6-trimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether units, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether). The poly(arylene ether) can comprise molecules having aminoalkyl-containing end group(s), typically located in a position ortho to the hydroxy group. Also frequently present are tetramethyldiphenoquinone (TMDQ) end groups, typically obtained from 2,6-dimethylphenol-containing reaction mixtures in which tetramethyldiphenoquinone by-product is present. The poly(arylene ether) can be in the form of a homopolymer, a copolymer, a graft copolymer, an ionomer, or a block copolymer, as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) comprises, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule. Such poly(arylene ether)s may be synthesized by oxidative copolymerization of a monohydric phenol and a polyhydric phenol. Suitable monohydric phenols include, for example, 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Suitable polyhydric phenols include, for example, 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-biphenol, 2,2-bis(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)octane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-n-butane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenylmethane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cyclopentane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cycloheptane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cycloheptane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclooctane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cyclooctane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclononane, 11,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cyclononane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclodecane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cyclodecane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cycloundecane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cycloundecane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclododecane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)cyclododecane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-t-butylphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylphenyl)propane 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-bromophenyl)propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclopentane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1,1-tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydrxyphenyl)ethane 1,1,1-tris(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1,3,5-tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl-1-keto)benzene, 1,3,5-tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl-1-isopropylidene)benzene, 2,2,4,4-tetrakis(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)pentane, 2,2,4,4-tetrakis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)pentane, 1,1,4,4-tetrakis(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1,4,4-tetrakis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,3,5-tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene, 1,3,5-tris(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene, 2,6-bis(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-methyl phenol, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-2-heptene, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)-2-heptene, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)heptane, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tris(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)heptane, 2,4-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenylisopropyl)phenol, 2,4-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenylisopropyl)phenol, tetrakis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)methane, tetrakis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)methane, tetrakis(4-[4-hydroxy-3-methylphenylisopropyl]-phenoxy)methane, tetrakis(4-[4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenylisopropyl]-phenoxy)methane, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the polyhydric phenol comprises 3 to 8 phenolic hydroxy groups per molecule.

In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) is a bifunctional poly(arylene ether) prepared by oxidative copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane. An illustrative initial reaction mixture composition for oxidative copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane is as follows: 50192 parts by weight of 2,6-dimethylphenol, 109581 parts by weight of toluene, 503 parts by weight of di-n-butylamine, 1175 parts by weight of dimethyl-n-butylamine, 264 parts by weight of a diamine mix containing N,N′-dibutylethylenediamine and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, and 353 parts by weight of a catalyst mix containing 6.5 weight percent Cu₂O in aqueous hydrogen bromide. The polymerization reaction is conducted by controlling the temperature and oxygen concentration in the reaction vessel. The concentration of copper in the polymerization reaction mixture is about 125 parts per million by weight based on the total weight of the reaction mixture, or about 420 parts per million by weight based on the weight of poly(arylene ether) product. The concentration of poly(arylene ether) product in the polymerization reaction mixture is 29.8 weight percent based on the total weight of the reaction mixture. The product bifunctional poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.06 deciliter per gram measured in chloroform at 25° C.

In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) is a capped poly(arylene ether). A capped poly(arylene ether) is a poly(arylene ether) in which at least a portion of the terminal phenolic hydroxy groups is capped with a capping agent via an acylation or alkylation reaction, for example. Procedures for capping poly(arylene ether)s with reactive groups are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,978 B1 to Braat et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,704 B2 to Yeager et al. One example of such a procedure is the reaction of the uncapped poly(arylene ether) with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine as catalyst. In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) comprises, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule. Such capped poly(arylene ether)s may be prepared by capping poly(arylene ether)s comprising, on average, at least 1.5 phenolic hydroxy groups per molecule.

In some embodiments, the extruded composition comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein L has the structure

wherein each occurrence of R5 and R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C12 hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C1-C12 hydrocarbylthio, C1-C12 hydrocarbyloxy, and C2-C12 halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; x is 0 or 1; and Y has a structure selected from the group consisting of

wherein each occurrence of R₇ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, and each occurrence of R⁸ and R⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, and C₁-C₆ hydrocarbylene wherein R⁸ and R⁹ collectively form a C₄-C₁₂ alkylene group; each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; y and z are independently 0 to 100 provided that the sum of y and z is at least one; each occurrence of Q is independently hydrogen, (meth)acryloyl, styryl methyl

In some embodiments, the extruded composition comprises a ring-functionalized poly(arylene ether) comprising repeating structural units of the formula

wherein each L¹-L⁴ is independently hydrogen, a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or an alkynyl group; wherein the alkenyl group is represented by

wherein L⁵-L⁷ are independently hydrogen or methyl, and a is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; wherein the alkynyl group is represented by

CH₂

_(b)—C≡C-L⁸ wherein L⁸ is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, and b is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and wherein about 0.02 mole percent to about 25 mole percent of the total L¹-L⁴ substituents in the ring-functionalized poly(arylene ether) are alkenyl and/or alkynyl groups.

There is no particular limitation on the poly(arylene ether) in the extruded composition. In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.03 to about 1 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C. In embodiments in which a low intrinsic viscosity poly(arylene ether) is preferred, the poly(arylene ether) can have an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.1 to about 0.25 deciliter per gram. In embodiments in which a very low intrinsic poly(arylene ether) is preferred, the poly(arylene ether) can have an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.03 to about 0.15 deciliter per gram, specifically about 0.03 to about 0.10 deciliter per gram, more specifically about 0.06 to about 0.09 deciliter per gram.

In addition to the poly(arylene ether), the solution fed to the devolatilizing extruder comprises a solvent. Suitable solvents include, for example, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and combinations thereof. Specific examples of halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents include trichloromethane (chloroform), tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride), dichloroethanes, dichloroethylenes, trichloroethanes, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethanes, pentachloroethane, hexachloroethane, tribromomethane, dibromoethanes, and combinations thereof. Specific examples of aromatic hydrocarbon solvents include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and combinations thereof. Specific examples of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon solvents include chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes, and trichlorobenzenes, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the solvent is toluene.

One embodiment is a method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) is selected from the group consisting of a polyhydroxy poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule, a polycapped poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule, and mixtures thereof; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.15 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the mixture comprises about 65 to about 85 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 15 to about 35 weight percent solvent; and wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 200 to about 235° C., and at least one vent having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals. In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) solution comprises about 70 to about 80 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 30 weight percent solvent. In some embodiments, the at least one vent has a pressure of about 25 to about 35 kilopascals.

In some embodiments of the method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), the devolatilizing extrusion comprises introducing the poly(arylene ether) solution to an extruder in a superheated state. In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises less than 2,000 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the poly(arylene ether). In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent solvent, specifically about 0.2 to about 0.8 weight percent solvent, more specifically about 0.4 to about 0.6 weight percent solvent.

In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) is a polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 functional groups Q per molecule; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein R is the residue of a polyhydric phenol; each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of m is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of all occurrences of m is at least 1; n, which is the number of poly(arylene ether) groups bound to R (not the number of repeating units separating R and Q), is at least 2, specifically 2 to about 10, more specifically 2 or 3 or 4, still more specifically 2; and each occurrence of Q is independently hydrogen, (meth)acryloyl, styryl methyl, or glycidyl. (Although a hydrogen atom is not ordinarily considered a functional group, it is a functional group in this embodiment because it is part of a reactive phenolic hydroxy group.)

In some embodiments, the polyhydric phenol is a dihydric phenol having the structure

wherein each occurrence of R¹ and R² and R³ and R⁴ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms, and unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl; z is 0 or 1; and Y has a structure selected from the group consisting of

wherein each occurrence of R⁵ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, and each occurrence of R⁶ and R⁷ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, and C₁-C₆ hydrocarbylene wherein R⁶ and R⁷ collectively form a C₄-C₁₂ alkylene group. Illustrative specific dihydric phenols are included among the polyhydric phenols listed above.

In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule and comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1. Such poly(arylene ether)s may be prepared by copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroyphenyl)propane in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper ions and di-n-butylamine.

In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) is a polycapped poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein R is the residue of a polyhydric phenol; each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of m is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of all occurrences of m is at least 1; n, which is the number of capped poly(arylene ether) chains bound to R, is at least 2, specifically 2 to about 10, more specifically 2 or 3 or 4, still more specifically 2; each occurrence of R⁸ is independently C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylene; each occurrence of p is independently 0 or 1; and each occurrence of R⁹ and R¹⁰ and R¹¹ is independently hydrogen or C₁-C₁₈ hydrocarbyl.

In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule and comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1.

Any of the above-described polyfunctional poly(arylene ether)s may contain minor amounts of structural units formed as a result of side reactions occurring during poly(arylene ether) synthesis or processing. For example, when a polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) is prepared by method comprising oxidative polymerization of monomers comprising 2,6-dimethylphenol in the presence of a secondary amine, thermal decomposition may generate minor amounts of the structural units

wherein the wavy bonds represent connections to the remainder of the polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) molecule.

In some embodiments of the isolation method, devolatilizing extrusion comprises adding a solid poly(arylene ether) to a first section of the extruder, and adding the poly(arylene ether) solution to a second section of the extruder downstream of the first section. In some embodiments, the solid poly(arylene ether) is a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether).

In some embodiments, the poly(arylene ether) solution is added to the extruder downstream of at least one vent having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals, specifically about 25 to about 35 kilopascals. In some embodiments, the extruder comprises at least two vents each independently having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals, or at least one vent each independently having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals, or at least four vents each independently having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals.

In some embodiments, the cooling belt is maintained at a temperature of about −30 to about 150° C., specifically about 0 to about 80° C., more specifically about 25 to about 50° C.

In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) is in the form of flakes or irregular particles. As described above in the context of poly(arylene ether)-containing extruded compositions, flakes or irregular particles may be prepared by physically breaking up a film, strand, or sheet of extruded poly(arylene ether).

One embodiment is an isolated poly(arylene ether) prepared by one of the above-described methods and comprising less than or equal to 100 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the isolated poly(arylene ether). In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent solvent.

One embodiment is a method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the mixture comprises about 70 to about 80 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 30 weight percent toluene; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.10 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1; wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 210 to about 230° C., and at least vent having a pressure of about 25 to about 35 kilopascals; wherein the mixture is fed to the extruder downstream of at least one vent; and wherein a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether) is recycled for addition to the feed throat of the extruder.

Another embodiment is a poly(arylene ether) isolated by the above method and comprising less than or equal to 100 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the isolated poly(arylene ether). In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent toluene.

One embodiment is a method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from a mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the mixture comprises about 70 to about 80 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 30 weight percent toluene; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.10 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 capping groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1; wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 210 to about 230° C., and at least one vent having a pressure of about 25 to about 35 kilopascals; wherein the mixture is fed to the extruder downstream of at least one vent; and wherein a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether) is recycled for addition to the feed throat of the extruder

Another embodiment is an isolated poly(arylene ether) prepared by the above method and comprising less than or equal to 2,000 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the isolated poly(arylene ether). In some embodiments, the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent toluene.

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Preparative Examples 1-6

A copolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol (2,6-xylenol; 2,6-X) and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (tetramethylbisphenol A; TMBPA) was prepared in six separate batches by oxidative copolymerization in toluene in the presence of a copper amine catalyst. The monomer mixture consisted of 83 weight percent 2,6-dimethylphenol and 17 weight percent 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane. The catalyst copper and other water soluble components were extracted with an aqueous trisodium nitrilotriacetate solution to yield a poly(arylene ether) solution comprising about 30 weight percent copolymer and about 70 weight percent toluene. Table 1 provides characterization of the poly(arylene ether) formed in each batch, both before and after catalyst chelation. In Table 1, “% TMBPA-Target” refers to the target weight percent of 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane based on the total weight of monomer; “IV” refers to intrinsic viscosity measured at 25° C. in chloroform; “Resid. 2,6-X” refers to residual 2,6-dimethylphenol; “Resid. TMBPA” refers to residual 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane as determined by gas chromatography; “Wt % Biphenyl unit” refers to the weight percent of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-dioxobiphenyl incorporated into the copolymer; “Wt % total TMBPA” refers to the weight percent total of 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-oxyphenyl)propane units including free and incorporated into the copolymer; “Wt % Free TMBPA” refers to the weight percent of free 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane as determined by ¹H NMR; “Wt % Ex Mannich DBA” refers to the weight percent of 3-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-di-n-butylaminomethylphenyl groups incorporated into the copolymer; “Functionality” refers to the number of hydroxy groups per molecule, on average; “ppm OH” refers to the parts per million by weight of hydroxy groups, based on the total weight of copolymer; and “% Terminal TMBPA” refers to the percent of total TMBPA that is either free (residual) TMBPA or TMBPA incorporated at the terminus of a copolymer chain.

TABLE 1 Sample Point Analysis Notes Units P. Ex. 1 P. Ex. 2 P. Ex. 3 P. Ex. 4 P. Ex. 5 P. Ex. 6 % TMBPA - Target 17.0% 17.0% 17.0% 17.0% 17.0% 17.0% Reactor IV dl/g 0.077 0.075 0.076 0.0798 0.0795 0.082 % Solids % 31.2 29.5 29.2 29.75 30.4 29.4 Chelation Copper AA ppm 2.2 1.5 1.4 0.7 0.3 2 Tank Copper AA ppm 1.9 After IV dl/g 0.0803 0.0718 0.0734 0.083 0.0842 0.0843 Decantation % solids Light phase after % 27.5 30.2 32.5 33.2 33.8 32.7 decantation Resid. 2,6-X GC ppm 163 234 229 375 364 387 Resid. GC ppm 8364 15669 17838 16225 15397 16236 TMBPA ¹H NMR Absolute M_(n) AMU 1670 1546 1499 1511 1486 1512 Wt % Biphenyl unit % 0.94 0.67 0.59 0.66 0.68 0.69 Wt % total TMBPA % 21.84 21.51 21.4 20.66 20.25 20.26 Wt % Free TMBPA % 0.92 1.11 1.21 1.07 1.07 1.01 Wt % Ex Mannich DBA % 0.39 1.41 1.73 1.77 1.72 1.78 Functionality 1.73 1.85 1.93 1.89 1.83 1.85 ppm OH ppm 18800 22400 24100 23400 23100 22900 % Terminal TMBPA % 37 45 50 47 45 47

Examples 1-12

These examples illustrate various process conditions for direct isolation of a bifunctional, uncapped low molecular weight poly(arylene ether).

The extruder was a Werner & Pfleiderer 30 millimeter co-rotating twin screw extruder with an L/D ratio of 38, a total of 12 barrels, and a drive motor power of 11 kilowatts. The dry polymer was fed with a K-Tron loss and weight feeder (model K2LT20) in barrel #1 (upstream end of extruder), the polymer solution feed section was in barrel # 5, the devolatilizing sections were in barrels, 3-4, 7-8. 10 and 11; the pumping section was in barrel 12. The die head contained two orifices with 4 millimeter openings to make strands. The extruder had 5 heating zones: Zone 1 controlling barrel 2, zone 2 controlling barrels 3-5, zone 3 controlling barrels 6-9, zone 4 controlling barrels 10-12, and zone 5 controlling the die temperature. The extruder has an adjustable screw rotation rate (0-500 rpm) and a torque limiting safety device. Vacuum to the extruder was provided with a Busch Huckepack vacuum pump (Model HO0433).

The cooling belt was a Sandvik single-belt cooling conveyor. The belt had a width of 30.5 centimeters (12 inches) and a total (loop) length of 4.1 meters (167 inches) that included an actively cooled length of 95.3 centimeters (37.5 inches). So, extruded poly(arylene ether) traveled a distance of about 1.6 meters (62 inches) on the cooling belt. Cooling was provided by a water spray beneath the belt. The cooling water was circulated at a rate of about 11-15 liters per minute (about 3-4 gallons per minute) and a pressure of about 140-170 kilopascals (about 20-25 pounds per square inch gauge). The speed range for the belt is about 0.5 to 20 meters/minute. The belt transport rate in these experiments was about 10 meters per minute (33 feet per minute). The cooling belt was maintained at about 25-30° C. At the end of the cooling belt, the cooled poly(arylene ether), which was in the form of broken strand fragments of variable length, was transferred to a bag. Although the poly(arylene ether) here was in the form of broken strand fragments, it could also have been formed into prills or pellets or pastilles by use of apparatuses and methods known in the art.

The six batches of copolymer corresponding to Preparative Examples 1-6 were combined to form a single poly(arylene ether) solution that was used to test various isolation conditions. Examples 1-5 correspond to conditions tested on the first day of experimentation, and Examples 6-12 corresponding to conditions tested on the second day.

Conditions for Examples 1-5 are summarized in Table 2. Before devolatilizing extrusion, the poly(arylene ether) solution was concentrated to 79.5% solids. Solid polymer was added to the feed throat. The weight ratio of solid polymer to poly(arylene ether) solution was 1:22. For each of Examples 1-5, it was possible to dry the resin to a low content of residual solvent in one pass through the extruder. At the end of this day, however, there was partial plugging of the vent lines from the extruder, indicating that the temperature profile and vacuum settings were near their limit for stable operation.

Conditions for Examples 6-12 are summarized in Table 3. Before devolatilizing extrusion, the poly(arylene ether) solution was concentrated to 69.5% solids. For each of Examples 6-12, the resin was dried to a low content of residual solvent, but the stability of the process over an extended period of time (6 hours) was improved by decreasing the extruder zone temperatures and lowering the vacuum setting in the extruder vent ports. The tradeoff was a higher content of residual toluene.

The characteristics of the poly(arylene ether)s for the resulting samples were then compared to those for the poly(arylene ether) prior to devolatilizing extrusion. The results, presented in Table 4, show that the characteristics of the poly(arylene ether) were largely unchanged by the devolatilizing extrusion process. This result was unexpected because one skilled in the art would have expected oxidative degradation of the poly(arylene ether) in the absence of post extrusion cooling via immersion in a water bath. Number average molecular weight, weight average molecular weight, and dispersity (D, M_(w)/M_(n)) were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using the following conditions: the solvent was chloroform containing 67 microliters di-n-butylamine per liter; the flow rate was 1 milliliter per minute; the temperature was 40° C.; the total run time was 38 minutes; detection was at 280 nanometers; the three columns employed, upstream to downstream, were a 300 millimeter long Hewlett Packard PLgel 5 micron 10³ Angstrom column, a 300 millimeter long Phenomenex Phenogel 5 micron 500 Angstrom column, and a Perkin Elmer PLgel 5 micron 100 Angstrom column; software for instrument control and data collection was Chemstation Rev. A.10.01 [1635] Agilent Technologies; software for molecular weight analysis was Agilent GPC Data Analysis software for Agilent Chemstation Rev.A.02.02.

FIG. 1 is a plot of residual toluene as a function of extruder melt temperature. Below a melt temperature of about 210° C., the level of residual toluene rises substantially above 1 weight percent. Above a melt temperature of about 230° C., the process was less stable because of plugging of vent lines.

FIG. 2 consists of plots of residual toluene as a function of vent port 3 pressure (left half of figure) and vent port 4 pressure (right half of figure). In the FIG. 2 legend, “P3” is the pressure of the third vent (counting from upstream to downstream) for a devolatilizing extrusion process isolating a 0.08 deciliter per gram poly(arylene ether) that is a copolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane; “P3 SA120” is the pressure of the third vent for a devolatilizing extrusion process isolating a 0.12 deciliter per gram poly(arylene ether) that is a homopolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol. When the absolute pressure of vent port 3 is greater than about 40 kilopascals (300 millimeters of mercury) or the absolute pressure of vent port 4 is greater than about 26.7 kilopascals (200 millimeters of mercury), the level of residual toluene rises substantially above 1 weight percent. When the absolute pressure of vent port 3 is less than about 20 kilopascals (150 millimeters of mercury) or the absolute pressure of vent port 4 is less than about 13.3 kilopascals (100 millimeters of mercury), the process becomes less stable because of plugging of vent lines.

TABLE 2 Variable Unit Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Toluene-PPE solution % solids % 79.5 79.5 79.5 79.5 79.5 Toluene-PPE solution feed rate kg/hr 11.4 11.4 11.4 11.4 11.4 Dry back feed rate kg/hr 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Screw speed rpm 400 300 300 400 400 Temperature Zone 1 deg C. 199 199 191 191 188 Temperature Zone 2 deg C. 199 199 191 191 188 Temperature Zone 3 deg C. 199 199 191 191 188 Temperature Zone 4 deg C. 199 199 199 199 188 Temperature Die deg C. 218 218 204 204 199 Melt temperature deg C. 218 217 214 211 208 Pressure Vent 1 kPa 56.3 62.5 69.3 67.2 80.3 Pressure Vent 2 kPa 51.9 59.6 67.7 65.7 79.3 Pressure Vent 3 kPa 21.9 25.2 27.1 27.2 50.9 Pressure Vent 4 kPa 21.3 21.3 21.7 17.9 27.3 Residual Toluene wt % 0.62 0.66 0.59 0.47 1.07

TABLE 3 Variable Unit Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ex. 11 Ex. 12 Toluene-PPE solution % solids % 69.5 69.5 69.5 69.5 69.5 69.5 69.5 Toluene-PPE solution feed rate kg/hr 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 Dry back feed rate kg/hr 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 Screw speed rpm 334 334 334 334 334 334 334 Temperature Zone 1 deg C. 171 171 171 171 171 171 171 Temperature Zone 2 deg C. 177 177 177 177 177 177 177 Temperature Zone 3 deg C. 177 177 177 177 182 182 182 Temperature Zone 4 deg C. 177 177 177 182 182 182 182 Temperature Die deg C. 188 188 188 188 188 188 188 Melt temperature deg C. 196 195 197 197 197 193 197 Pressure Vent 1 kPa 86.1 80.1 78.4 78.8 76.1 71.1 71.6 Pressure Vent 2 kPa 84.1 79.5 77.5 77.7 75.7 71.2 71.7 Pressure Vent 3 kPa 46.3 47.3 46.0 46.9 47.2 46.5 46.8 Pressure Vent 4 kPa 33.3 32.7 33.2 33.2 32.9 33.3 33.2 Residual Toluene wt % 1.86 1.6 1.61 1.44 1.65 1.66 1.42

TABLE 4 Before Ex. Analysis Notes Units Isolation Ex. 4 12 IV dl/g 0.0789 0.0774 0.0811 % Toluene GC % 0.4695 1.4208 Hydroxyl content FTIR ppm 20737 21002 21091 Residual 2,6-X GC ppm 176 186 216 Residual TMBPA GC ppm 17235 15971 16167 M_(n) GPC AMU 1250 1248 1213 M_(w) GPC AMU 2528 2638 2583 D (M_(w)/M_(n)) GPC 2.02 2.11 2.13 ¹H NMR Absolute M_(n) 1489 1514 1474 Wt % Biphenyl unit 0.67 0.64 0.66 Wt % total TMBPA 21.12 20.78 21.07 Wt % Free TMBPA 1.17 1.04 1.12 Wt % Ex Mannich DBA 0.86 1.48 1.51 Functionality 1.88 1.91 1.88 ppm OH ppm 22700 23300 23700 % Terminal TMBPA % 48 48 49

Example 13

A monofunctional poly(arylene ether) ether having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.12 deciliter per gram at 25° C. was prepared by oxidative polymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol. After chelation of the catalyst, the solution was concentrated to 59% solids and isolated by devolatilizing extrusion using the apparatus described for Examples 1-12 and the processing conditions detailed in Table 5. Note that the extrusion temperatures were higher and the last vent pressure was lower than those for Examples 1-12.

TABLE 5 Variable Unit Ex. 13 Toluene-PPE solution % solids % 59 Toluene-PPE solution feed rate kg/hr 13.6 Dry back feed rate kg/hr 0.9 Screw speed rpm 400 Temperature Zone 1 deg C. 204 Temperature Zone 2 deg C. 204 Temperature Zone 3 deg C. 204 Temperature Zone 4 deg C. 204 Temperature Die deg C. 246 Melt temperature deg C. 253 Pressure Vent 1 kPa 86.1 Pressure Vent 2 kPa 81.7 Pressure Vent 3 kPa 9.6 Pressure Vent 4 kPa 6.8 Residual Toluene wt % .26

Comparative Examples 1-5

These examples illustrate melt extrusion of a methacrylate-capped poly(arylene ether) dry powder

Two batches of a bifunctional poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.09 dL/g measured at 25° C. in chloroform were prepared by oxidative copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propane in toluene. The terminal hydroxy groups of the bifunctional poly(arylene ether) were methacrylate-capped by reaction with methacrylic anhydride in the presence of N,N-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as capping catalyst to yield two batches of a methacrylate-capped bifunctional poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.09 dL/g measured at 25° C. in chloroform. A byproduct of the capping reaction is methacrylic acid, which is present in the post-capping solution, along with excess methacrylic anhydride and DMAP. Methacrylic acid and methacrylic anhydride present a potential complication in the devolatilizing extrusion process in that they may polymerize exothermically under the extruder processing conditions. A corresponding polymerization reaction may, in principle, occur with the methacrylate capping groups present in the functionalized polymer, and the resulting crosslinking of the methacrylate-capped bifunctional poly(arylene ether) could dramatically increase the melt viscosity within the extruder.

In order to clarify the extent of the cross-linking hazard, thermal stability tests were carried out by conducting laboratory-scale melt extrusion of dry capped polymer.

Laboratory-scale melt extrusion experiments demonstrated the molecular weight stability of a methacrylate dicapped poly(arylene ether) after multiple passes through a laboratory extruder. The starting material for these experiments was a solid methacrylate dicapped poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.09 dL/g. It had previously been isolated by a precipitation procedure comprising addition of a 45 weight percent solution of the methacrylate dicapped poly(arylene ether) in methanol. The extruder was a C.W. Brabender extruder, type 2503, single screw, 1.9 centimeter (¾ inch) screw diameter, with a ratio of screw length to diameter of 25. The extruder was operated at 100 rotations per minute with the four zone temperatures specified in Table 7. The extruded polymer was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography to determine molecular weight characteristics, and by ¹H NMR to determine the weight concentration of methacrylate groups, based on the weight of the polymer. The results in Table 6 show the stability of the methacrylate capping groups on the polymer after multiple lab extrusions. The data indicate that the reactivity of the material at the extrusion melt temperature (about 230° C.) is low: all the samples passed through the lab extruder up to three times without incident; some gel particles were detected in solution but they were insignificantly small; number average molecular weight increased by about 5%; weight average molecular weight increased by about 15%; and the weight percent of methacrylate capping groups decreased by about 4%. Although the reactivity of the material at the extrusion temperature is low, a small but significant amount of branching and/or crosslinking did occur, as evidenced by the molecular weight increase.

TABLE 6 Screw Rot. MA- Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Die Temp. Melt Temp. Rate Cap Sample Pass # Temp. (° C.) Temp. (° C.) Temp. (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (rpm) Amps M_(n) M_(w) D (wt %) C. Ex. 1 0 — — — — — — — 2755 4393 1.59 6.83 C. Ex. 2 1 204 218 218 227 234 100 3 2838 4743 1.67 6.74 C. Ex. 3 3 204 218 218 227 233 100 3.5 2891 5054 1.75 6.58 C. Ex. 4 1 254 268 268 277 269 100 2 2971 5553 1.87 6.50 C. Ex. 5 3 254 268 268 277 279 100 2.5 3166 6649 2.10 6.19

Examples 14-16, Comparative Examples 6 and 7

A poly(arylene ether) solution was processed by devolatilizing extrusion using the three sets of conditions detailed in Table 7. “Product discharge temp.” is the temperature of the poly(arylene ether) at the end of the cooling belt as measured by a hand-held infrared temperature detector (Cole Parmer 39650-02 IR thermometer). The solution was prepared by re-dissolving precipitated methacrylate dicapped poly(arylene ether) (0.09 dL/g) powder in toluene to give a solution comprising 30 weight percent solids, then concentrating the solution to 70 weight percent solids. The three sets of devolatilizing extrusion conditions correspond to Examples 14-16 in Table 7.

Results of characterizing the isolated capped poly(arylene ether)s are provided in Table 8. Residual (uncapped) hydroxy groups were determined by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) using 2,6-dimethylphenol standards. Concentrations of free methacrylic acid (MAOH), methacrylic anhydride (MAA), DMAP, and toluene were determined by gas chromatography. Number average molecular weight (M_(n)), weight average molecular weight (M_(w)), and polydispersity index (D; M_(w)/M_(n)) were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The weight percent of methacrylate capping groups (based on the total weight of the capped poly(arylene ether)) was determined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR). In Table 8, Comparative Examples 6 and 7 represent the two precipitated methacrylate dicapped poly(arylene ether) (0.09 dL/g) powders used to generate the poly(arylene ether) solutions for Examples 14-16.

The results in Table 8 show that the process of devolatilizing extrusion and melt cooling in air by means of a cooling belt unexpectedly does not result in substantial decomposition of the capped poly(arylene ether). This result is unexpected because molecular mobility is greater in solution than in a polymer melt, and because air oxidation of the methacrylate groups might be expected to initiate polymerization of those groups. In particular, although crosslinking of the methacrylate functionality would have been expected to occur under these conditions, no significant difference in methacrylate functionality or molecular weight was observed for the product before and after undergoing the devolatilizing extrusion and belt cooler collection process. These results demonstrate the surprising result that the methacrylate-capped poly(arylene ether) is able to withstand the total isolation process without significant cross-linking or degradation due to oxidation by air. The product may be isolated by this process without the need to add a polymerization stabilizer.

TABLE 7 Ex. Ex. Ex. Parameter units 14 15 16 Temperature Zone 1 ° C. 188 188 188 Temperature Zone 2 ° C. 188 188 188 Temperature Zone 3 ° C. 191 191 188 Temperature Zone 4 ° C. 194 198 204 Die Temp ° C. 204 210 216 Melt Temp ° C. 223 225 229 Vacuum Port #1 kPa 90.4 90.8 90.4 Vacuum Port #2 kPa 90.3 91.1 90.8 Vacuum Port #3 kPa 41.5 37.3 41.0 Vacuum Port #4 kPa 26.7 27.0 26.7 Extruder screw rotation rate rpm 330 44.0 44.0 Extruder Torque % 40 41 37 Polymer Solution Feed kg/hr 11.4 13.6 13.6 Barrel #1 Feed lb/hr 0.9 0.9 0.9 Belt Cooler Temp ° C. — 27 — Product discharge temp ° C. — 93 —

TABLE 8 Method Unit C. Ex. 6 C. Ex. 7 Ex. 14 Ex. 15 Ex. 16 OH FTIR ppm 12.2 187 105 102 105 MAOH GC ppm 1857 3705 705 869 853 MAA GC ppm 1809 2353 268 307 311 DMAP GC ppm 1241 780 447 735 591 Toluene GC wt % 0.13% 0.65% 0.63% 0.73% 0.68% M_(n) GPC AMU 2739 2634 2748 2697 2748 M_(w) GPC AMU 4210 4156 4598 4516 4606 D (M_(w)/M_(n)) GPC 1.54 1.58 1.67 1.67 1.68 MA-Cap ¹H NMR wt % 6.83 — 6.99 6.91 6.99

Comparative Examples 8-46

These comparative examples illustrate the effects of melt extrusion on the molecular weight of various methacrylate-capped poly(arylene ether)s in the presence and absence of the polymerization inhibitor 4-t-butylcatechol.

The experiments were conducted on the laboratory-scale extruder described above for Comparative Examples 1-5. In Table 9, the column labeled “PPE type” indicates the type of poly(arylene ether) used. The designation “MAPPE 0.12” corresponds to a methacrylate-capped poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) (prepared by homopolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol followed by capped with methacrylic anhydride) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.12 deciliter per gram; “MA2PPE 0.06” corresponds to a methacrylate-dicapped copolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol and tetramethylbisphenol A having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.06 deciliter per gram; “MA2PPE 0.09” corresponds to a methacrylate-dicapped copolymer of 2,6-dimethylphenol and tetramethylbisphenol A having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.09 deciliter per gram. All poly(arylene ether)s were previously isolated from solution by precipitation in methanol. The column labeled “PPE amount” gives the amount of the poly(arylene ether) in grams. The numbers in the column labeled “Ihib.” correspond to the amount of 4-t-butylcatechol in grams.

In Table 9, temperatures of the four temperature-controlled extruder zones are expressed in degrees centigrade. The temperatures in the columns labeled “Probe(1)” and “Probe(2)” are expressed in degrees centigrade and correspond to melt temperatures within the extruder. The column labeled “Time (sec)” gives the residence time in the extruder, expressed in units of seconds. The column labeled “RPM” gives the extruder screw rotation rate, in rotations per minute. When an example lists values of “NA” in columns for extruder temperature, time, and rotation rate, it means that the sample was analyzed without extrusion.

The results show that each of the methacrylate-capped poly(arylene ether)s exhibited a small but significant increase in molecular weight on melt extrusion. In general, the molecular weight increase was greater for the mono-capped 0.12 dL/g poly(arylene ether) than for the dicapped 0.06 dL/g poly(arylene ether). Neither of these resins generated any observable gels after one pass through the extruder. The addition of the polymerization inhibitor 4-t-butylcatechol allows for an increase in die temperature, but increasing the concentration of 4-t-butylcatechol from 0.25 to 0.5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight poly(arylene ether) did not produce an additional benefit.

For the dicapped 0.09 dL/g poly(arylene ether), the effect of multiple passes through the extruder was explored. In general, some molecular weight build was observed on the first pass through the extruder, and farther molecular weight build was observed after second and third passes through the extruder. Some gels were observed after the second pass through the extruder.

The molecular weight increases observed on melt extrusion of these poly(arylene ether)s highlight the unexpected ability to isolate such resins by devolatilizing extrusion under similar temperature conditions without observing a significant molecular weight increase.

TABLE 9 PPE Inhibitor Temp-1 Temp-2 Temp-3 Temp-4 Probe Probe Time M_(w) M_(n) PPE (g) (g) (C.) (C.) (C.) (C.) (1) (2) (s) RPM (AMU) (AMU) D Pass C. Ex. 8 MAPPE 0.12 NA 0 NA NA NA NA — — NA NA 7298 4667 1.6 — C. Ex. 9 MAPPE 0.12 200 0 257 276 283 257 — — 45 100 7593 4810 1.6 1 C. Ex. 10 MAPPE 0.12 200 0 237 256 263 237 — — 45 100 7561 4789 1.6 1 C. Ex. 11 MAPPE 0.12 200 0 227 246 253 227 — — 45 100 7535 4752 1.6 1 C. Ex. 12 MAPPE 0.12 200 0 217 236 243 217 — — 45 100 7457 4742 1.6 1 C. Ex. 13 MAPPE 0.12 200 0 207 226 233 207 — — 45 100 7442 4729 1.6 1 C. Ex. 14 MAPPE 0.12 200 0 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7408 4718 1.6 1 C. Ex. 15 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.05 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7388 4714 1.6 1 C. Ex. 16 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.10 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7538 4712 1.6 1 C. Ex. 17 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.15 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7488 4716 1.6 1 C. Ex. 18 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.20 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7399 4704 1.6 1 C. Ex. 19 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.25 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7384 4707 1.6 1 C. Ex. 20 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.50 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7376 4696 1.6 1 C. Ex. 21 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.75 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7345 4726 1.6 1 C. Ex. 22 MAPPE 0.12 200 1.00 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 7330 2733 1.6 1 C. Ex. 23 MAPPE 0.12 200 0.50 227 246 253 227 — — 45 100 7442 4729 1.6 1 C. Ex. 24 MA2PPE 0.06 NA 0 NA NA NA NA — — NA NA 3227 2438 1.3 NA C. Ex. 25 MA2PPE 0.06 200 1.00 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 3360 2493 1.3 1 C. Ex. 26 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 204 218 218 232 — — 45 100 3362 2494 1.3 1 C. Ex. 27 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 116 208 208 222 — — 45 100 3556 2556 1.4 1 C. Ex. 28 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 186 198 198 212 — — 45 100 3660 2580 1.4 1 C. Ex. 29 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 176 188 188 204 — — 45 100 3339 2486 1.3 1 C. Ex. 30 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 167 178 178 192 — — 45 100 3397 2471 1.3 1 C. Ex. 31 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 157 168 168 186 — — 45 100 3300 2474 1.3 1 C. Ex. 32 MA2PPE 0.06 200 0 146 156 156 172 — — 45 100 3275 2463 1.3 1 C. Ex. 33 MA2PPE 0.09 — 0 — — — — — — — — 4167 2944 1.42 — C. Ex. 34 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0.5 274 288 288 302 302 296 45 100 5255 3227 1.6 1 C. Ex. 35 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0.5 274 288 288 302 302 296 45 100 5493 3305 1.7 2 C. Ex. 36 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0.5 254 268 268 277 277 275 45 100 4588 3087 1.5 1 C. Ex. 37 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0.5 254 268 268 277 277 275 45 100 4698 3121 1.5 2 C. Ex. 38 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0.5 224 238 238 248 252 249 45 100 4259 2981 1.5 1 C. Ex. 39 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0.5 224 238 238 248 252 249 45 100 4455 3052 1.5 2 C. Ex. 40 MA2PPE 0.09 200 1 274 288 288 302 312 307 45 100 4961 3171 1.6 1 C. Ex. 41 MA2PPE 0.09 200 1 274 288 288 302 312 307 45 100 5176 3226 1.6 2 C. Ex. 42 MA2PPE 0.09 200 1 254 268 268 277 278 274 45 100 4599 3094 1.5 1 C. Ex. 43 MA2PPE 0.09 200 1 254 268 268 277 278 274 45 100 4780 3144 1.5 2 C. Ex. 44 MA2PPE 0.09 200 1 224 238 238 248 253 251 45 100 4341 3016 1.4 1 C. Ex. 45 MA2PPE 0.09 200 1 224 238 238 248 253 251 45 100 4438 3040 1.5 2 C. Ex. 46 MA2PPE 0.09 200 0 NA NA NA NA NA NA 45 100 4393 2355 1.8 1

Examples 17 and 18, Comparative Example 47

These examples illustrate the molecular weight distribution of two poly(arylene ether)s isolated by the devolatilizing extrusion process. They also allow a comparison to one of the same poly(arylene ether)s isolated by precipitation.

The poly(arylene ether) of Example 17 in Table 10 was a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.12 deciliter per gram obtained as PPO SA120 from GE Plastics. The poly(arylene ether) of Example 18 and Comparative Example 47 was a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.09 deciliter per gram obtained as PPO SA90 from GE Plastics. For all of these examples, the experiment started with a 50 weight percent solution of the poly(arylene ether) in toluene. For Examples 17 and 18, the poly(arylene ether)s were isolated by the devolatilizing extrusion process described above for Examples 1-12. For Comparative Example 47, the poly(arylene ether) was precipitated by addition of one part by volume of the toluene solution to three parts by volume of methanol. Molecular weight distribution was determined by gel permeation chromatography using polystyrene standards as described above. A comparison of the results for Example 18 and Comparative Example 47 show that the Example 18 sample isolated by devolatilizing extrusion had a higher fraction of low molecular weight species than the Comparative Example 47 sample isolated by precipitation. For example, greater than 5 weight percent of the Example 18 sample had a molecular weight less than 500 atomic mass units, and greater than 10 weight percent of the sample had a molecular weight between 500 and 1500 atomic mass units.

TABLE 10 Ex. 17 Ex. 18 C. Ex. 47 PPE type PPE 0.12 PPE 0.09 PPE 0.09 Isolation method devol. extrusion devol. extrusion precipitation Mn 3310 2064 2580 Mw 7250 4024 4650 D 2.19 1.95 1.80 % <=500 1.56 3.10 1.72 % <=750 2.90 5.97 3.45 % <=1000 4.48 9.46 5.72 % <=1250 6.25 13.29 8.30 % <=1500 8.15 17.50 11.47 % <=1750 10.25 22.05 14.98 % <=2000 12.51 26.82 18.84

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

All cited patents, patent applications, and other references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. However, if a term in the present application contradicts or conflicts with a term in the incorporated reference, the term from the present application takes precedence over the conflicting term from the incorporated reference.

All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should further be noted that the terms “first”, “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). 

1. A method of separating a poly(arylene ether) from a solvent, comprising: removing volatiles from a mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded composition comprising the poly(arylene ether); wherein the devolatilizing extrusion comprises adding a solid poly(arylene ether) to a first section of an extruder, and adding the mixture to a second section of the extruder downstream of the first section; and cooling the extruded composition with a cooling device; wherein the cooling device cools the extruded composition without water immersion of the extruded composition; wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is maintained at a temperature of about −30 to about 150° C.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling the extruded composition comprises cooling the extruded composition to a temperature of about 20° C. to the glass transition temperature of the poly(arylene ether).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises a cooling belt.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises a belt cooled with a liquid selected from the group consists of water, glycol, liquid brine, and mixture thereof.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises an air-cooled belt.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling the extruded composition comprises spraying the extruded composition with a water mist.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded composition is extruded in the form of a sheet, a strand, or a film; and wherein the cooling device comprises a flaker and a cooling belt.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises a die face pelletizer and a cooling belt.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises an apparatus for pastille formation and a cooling belt.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling the extruded composition is conducted in a clean room.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprising the poly(arylene ether) and the solvent is a solution.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the devolatilizing extrusion comprises introducing the mixture to an extruder in a superheated state.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded composition is transferred to the cooling device in a form selected from the group consisting of strands, pellets, prills, pastilles, films, sheets, and flakes.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is a cooling belt, wherein the extruded composition is deposited on the cooling belt in the form of a film, a strand, or a sheet, and wherein the method further comprises breaking the film, strand, or sheet into flakes or irregular particles.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising packaging the flakes or irregular particles in a container selected from the group consisting of reinforced paper bags, boxes, and fiber drums.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded composition consists essentially of a poly(arylene ether), and wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises less than 2,000 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the poly(arylene ether).
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the mixture to the solid poly(arylene ether) is about 1:50 to about 50:1.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixture is added to the extruder downstream of at least one vacuum vent.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded composition comprises a poly(arylene ether) comprising repeating structural units having the formula

wherein for each structural unit, each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the extruded composition comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein L has the structure

wherein each occurrence of R⁵ and R⁶ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, and C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; x is 0 or 1; and Y has a structure selected from the group consisting of

wherein each occurrence of R₇ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, and each occurrence of R⁸ and R⁹ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl, and C₁-C₆ hydrocarbylene wherein R⁸ and R⁹ collectively form a C₄-C₁₂ alkylene group; each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; y and z are independently 0 to 100 provided that the sum of y and z is at least one; and each occurrence of Q is hydrogen.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.03 to about 1 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.1 to about 0.25 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.03 to about 0.15 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.
 25. A method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from a mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); wherein the devolatilizing extrusion comprises adding a solid poly(arylene ether) to a first section of an extruder, and adding the mixture to a second section of the extruder downstream of the first section; and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) is a polyhydroxy poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.15 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the mixture comprises about 65 to about 85 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 15 to about 35 weight percent solvent; and wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 200 to about 235° C., and at least one vent having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the mixture comprising the poly(arylene ether) and the solvent is a solution.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein the devolatilizing extrusion comprises introducing the mixture to an extruder in a superheated state.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises less than 2,000 parts per million by weight of an antisolvent for the poly(arylene ether).
 29. The method of claim 25, wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent solvent.
 30. The method of claim 25, wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) is a polyfunctional poly(arylene ether) comprising, on average, at least 1.5 functional groups Q per molecule; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein R is the residue of a polyhydric phenol; each occurrence of Z¹ is independently halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of Z² is independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted or substituted C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyl provided that the hydrocarbyl group is not tertiary hydrocarbyl, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbylthio, C₁-C₁₂ hydrocarbyloxy, or C₂-C₁₂ halohydrocarbyloxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; each occurrence of m is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of all occurrences of m is at least 1; n is at least 2; and each occurrence of Q is hydrogen.
 31. The method of claim 25, wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule and comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least
 1. 32. The method of claim 25, wherein the solid poly(arylene ether) is a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether).
 33. The method of claim 25, wherein the mixture is added to the extruder downstream of at least one vent having a pressure of about 20 to about 40 kilopascals.
 34. The method of claim 25, wherein the cooling belt is maintained at a temperature of about −30 to about 150° C.
 35. The method of claim 25, wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) is in the form of flakes or irregular particles.
 36. A method of isolating a poly(arylene ether), comprising: removing volatiles from mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a solvent by devolatilizing extrusion to form an extruded poly(arylene ether); wherein the devolatilizing extrusion comprises adding a solid poly(arylene ether) to a first section of an extruder, and adding the mixture to a second section of the extruder downstream of the first section; and cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) with a cooling belt to form an isolated poly(arylene ether); wherein the mixture comprises about 70 to about 80 weight percent poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 30 weight percent toluene; and wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.04 to about 0.10 deciliter per gram as measured in chloroform at 25° C.; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) has, on average, at least 1.5 hydroxy groups per molecule; wherein the isolated poly(arylene ether) comprises a poly(arylene ether) having the structure

wherein each occurrence of Q⁷ and Q⁸ is independently methyl or di-n-butylaminomethyl; and each occurrence of a and b is independently 0 to about 12, provided that the sum of a and b is at least 1; wherein devolatilizing extrusion comprises feeding the mixture to an extruder comprising at least one barrel having a temperature of about 210 to about 230° C., and at least one vent having a pressure of about 25 to about 35 kilopascals; wherein the mixture is fed to the extruder downstream of at least one vent; and wherein a portion of the isolated poly(arylene ether) is recycled for addition to the feed throat of the extruder.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the mixture comprising the poly(arylene ether) and the solvent is a solution. 